Track-gage.



. R. D. BILLINGTON.

TRACK GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1904.

PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

wihwooeo I flea.

NANA D. mummou UNITED STATES Patented September 13, 1904.

RUNA D. BILLINGTON, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRACK-GAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,213, dated September 13, 1904.

Application filed May 6, 1904. Serial No. 206,668. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, RUNA D. BILLiNGTON, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Oil City, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track Gages, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improved trackgage for railway-track and will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved gage. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end view of the wide end.

' The same reference characters indicate identical parts in the several views.

It is well known that the rails of a railwaytrack become spread apart by the wear and service to which they are subjected, and in order to keep such track in a serviceable and safe condition it is necessary to keep the same under inspection, more or less constant, that such spread may not exceed the limit of safety.

My gage is designed to travel upon the rails of the track, to be pushed ahead of the track inspector, and is provided with means to indicate the condition of the rails as to correctness of gage.

The construction of my device is substantially as follows: One end, B, on the base of my gage is broad and adapted to occupy or cover a considerable length of rail. The other end, A, or the apex is narrow, and in general shape the gage is substantially that of an isosceles triangle. To the end B is affixed an angle-iron, with one leg, 1, thereof extending over the rail 3 and the other leg, 2, thereof extending downward along the inside or gage side of the rail. To leg 1, near each end thereof, is aflixed a wheel 4 4, adapted to travel on top of rail 3, and to leg 2, also near each end thereof, is affixed a wheel 5, adapted to travel against the inside face of the head of said rail 3. Upon the under side of the apex or narrow end of the gage is aflixed an elongated roller 6, adapted to travel upon rail 3. Roller 6 and the angle-iron aforesaid are attached together by cross-pieces 7 7 7 and to the center piece 7 is attached the handle 8. Said handle is attached, near to the base B, in proximity to the angle-iron, with its free end extending obliquely backward and toward the apex A, so that said free end approaches rail 3. To the rear edge of cross-piece 7 is attached, directly over rail 3, an indicatorplate 9, the lower edge of which is in close proximity to said rail 3 and is graduated for the purpose of indicating the lateral location of said rail or its position as to correctness of,

position or gage.

When my gage is in use, it is placed upon the track in the position shown and the inspector or person using same takes a position near rail 3, where a ready view of plate 9 is afforded, and by means of the tongue or handle 8 pushes the gage ahead of him upon the track. Because of the peculiar attachment of said handle 8 there is always a sufficient endwise thrust of the gage in the direction of rail 3 to hold the end B of the gage true against rail 3, thus insuring that said gage shallat all times be square with the rails and enables the inspector to direct his attention to the graduated plate 9 and to note the condition of the track as to distance between rails.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A track-gage having substantially the shape of an isosceles triangle, a wheel approximate to each angle of the base thereof adapted to travel upon one of the rails and a wheel approximate to each angle of said base adapted to travel against the inner face or gage side of the rail-head, a roller at the apex of said gage, adapted to travel upon the other rail, a graduated plate located at said apex, and having its graduations in close proximity to the upper face of the rail, a handle, attached in proximity to said base with its free end extending obliquely backward and toward the apex of the gage.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUNA D. BILLINGTON.

Witnesses:

THos. H. NICHOLSON, EDMOND C. BREENE. 

